About this title: Compulsory "ujamaa" villages in Tanzania, collectivization in Russia, Le Corbusier's urban planning theory realized in Brasilia, the Great Leap Forward in China, agricultural "modernization" in the Tropics - the 20th century has been racked by grand utopian schemes that have inadvertently brought death and disruption to millions. Why do well ...
read more
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Yale University Press
Date Published: 1998-03-30
ISBN-13:9780300070163ISBN:0300070160
Description: Very Good. A very nice copy. Text in mint/unmarked condition. Former library copy with discreet markings. DJ has minor shelf rubbings. Binding is tight. Your Satisfaction Guaranteed. We ship daily. Expedited shipping available. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Yale Univ Pr
Date Published: 1999-02-08
ISBN-13:9780300078152ISBN:0300078153
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780300078152. read more
Edition: NEW ED
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780300078152ISBN:0300078153
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 460 pages. (460 pages) an analysis of diverse failures in high-modernist, authoritarian state planning. it covers projects such as collectivization in russia and the building of brasilia, arguing that any centrally-managed social plan must recognize the importance of local customs and practical knowledge. 36 illustrations edition new ed (Paperback) read more
Edition: First Printing
Binding: Cloth and Board
Publisher: Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn.
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780300070163ISBN:0300070160
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. "In this wide-ranging and original book, James C. Scott analyzes failed cases of largescale authoritanian plans in a variety of fields. " This is a very attractive black 1/4 cloth spine on a beige board hard back edition. This is a Presumed First Edition, and also it is a First Printing of this interesting book. The condition of this book is Fine, and the dust jacket is also Fine. The pages are clean, bright and white. These pages are unmarked, no names or writing. The ... read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Yale University Press
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780300078152ISBN:0300078153
Description: Fine. 0300078153 Pub date: 1999. Condition: Fine. We are a tested and proven company with over 400, 000 satisfied customers since 1997. Choose expedited shipping for much faster delivery. Delivery confirmation on all US orders. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Yale University Press
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780300078152ISBN:0300078153
Description: Good. Ships from store stock. We pull the best copy available. Used books may have highlighing and normal wear and may not have valid website pin codes, Web CT codes, or other supplements such as CDs. Satisfaction guaranteed. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Yale
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780300078152ISBN:0300078153
Description: pp. 445. Book is AS NEW; tight and crisp; wraps and manuscript pages are bright; spine is smooth; manuscript text has no markings. English. read more
Description: New. DISPATCHED FROM UNITED KINGDOM. NO EXPEDITED SHIPPING! Please note orders are confirmed immediately and may take 2-3 business days to ship. This processing time is in addition to the shipping time. Please allow 10-14 days for delivery. Brand new item. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: G20091121062735D. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Yale University Press
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780300078152ISBN:0300078153
Description: New. An analysis of diverse failures in high-modernist, authoritarian state planning. It covers projects such as collectivization in Russia and the building of Brasilia, arguing that any centrally-managed social plan must recognize the importance of local... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Yale Univ Pr
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780300078152ISBN:0300078153
Description: New. Why do well-intentioned plans for improving the human condition go tragically awry? In a wide-ranging and original study, James C. Scott analyzes failed cases of large-scale authoritarian plans in a variety of fields. He argues that centrally managed... read more
"This book is an excellent exploration of why the modern state behaves the way it does and why it has trouble undertaking large scale, well-intended projects, like city planning and especially agricultural reform.
It starts with a look at early state attempts to make commerce 'legible,' with the example of efforts to standardize weights and measures in France, which was much more complicated and involved a lot of push back by the aristocracy. Then he looks at the invention of last names and the desire by early modern states to make village land use easy to organize to that it would be easy to tax.
From there he looks at the building of Brazilia and the collective farm efforts in the USSR (very coercive and done to maximize grain redistrubution to the cities) and Tanzania (done with good intentions to way too mechanical and beauracratized.
The basic point of this book is not the the modern state will screw up any attempt to intervene into the economy and culture, but rather it must respect local knowledge and have those effected by the programs leading it and designing it. For example, Scott points out that most farmers in Africa and South America have an increadible knowledge of local soils, crop varieties, etc and that their seemingly unordered and inefficient methods are actually a response to local conditions that attempt to diversify in the face of ecological uncertainty (these places are very different than the American wheat fields as far as growing conditions). So, he cautions that market oriented, western farming techiniques can be disasters in non western places that need to take subsistence in mind to.
He ends by returning to his point that positive intervention is possible, but that locals need to be controlling partners in the exercise and local knowledge must not be underestimated.
A must read for anyone interested in social change and developemnt."
"One of those books that permanently changes the way you see the world -- or puts into words ideas that you had only subconsciously half-formed yourself"
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
